Why we love it
Every all-in-one espresso machine puts the grinder in the box. The Luxe Café also takes over the three jobs that make a beginner’s first month miserable. The conical burr grinder has 25 settings and weighs the dose rather than timing it, so a change of beans doesn’t quietly change how much coffee is in the basket. An assisted tamper presses the puck level without you having to judge the force. A spinning whisk paired with the steam wand textures the milk on four presets, from steamed milk to cold foam, and you can walk away while it does. Ninja’s listing also says the machine adjusts temperature and pressure for the drink you select. On top of that it brews a drip-style coffee in six to eighteen ounces and cold brew, so the person in the house who doesn’t drink espresso uses it too. What it doesn’t do is teach you espresso: the machine makes the decisions, which is the point if you want a latte at 7am.
Pros
- Weight-based dosing straight from a 25-setting conical burr grinder
- Assisted tamper presses the puck for you
- Hands-free frothing: whisk plus steam, four presets including cold foam
- Drip coffee and cold brew as well as espresso
- Onboard storage for the tamper, baskets and cleaning kit
Cons
- Little to learn from: the machine makes the dialing-in decisions
- Ninja doesn’t state the portafilter size, so third-party baskets and tampers are a gamble
- Much less owner history than the Breville Barista machines
- The Pro version’s hot-water spout and lever tamper aren’t on this model
